Although there were only ten seats in the room, their arrangement was deliberate, with seating assignments strictly based on the power of the ten syndicates.
Despite a few syndicate leaders being dissatisfied with their positions, no one dared to question it with Yamaguch Shigeo occupying the superior seat. After all, the Yamaguchi-gumi was the largest syndicate in Japan, and their strength and seniority were undeniable.
Sitting opposite Yamaguch Shigeo was Kawabuchi Gorō, the leader of the Sumiyoshi-kai, with Inagawa Tanihiro, the leader of the Inagawa-kai, kneeling beside him. These three were arguably the titans of Japan's underground forces, and the aura they exuded was the strongest. The heads of other smaller syndicates fell silent, trembling with fear.
However, among them, one figure was particularly striking. He stood nearly two meters tall, powerfully built, with bulging muscles that his white martial arts uniform could barely conceal. This man was called Daidōmon Kenbei. His family had been a renowned judo lineage in Japan. Daidōmon family's dojos were spread throughout Japan, boasting over a hundred thousand students. Daidōmon Kenbei was an ambitious man; he selected fighters from these students who were exceptional in combat and loyal, establishing the Arashi Judo-ryū. These individuals, utilizing their superior martial skills, engaged in syndicate activities.
Newer syndicates like theirs were often ostracized and suppressed by established ones, sometimes even facing joint attacks. However, the Arashi Judo-ryū's members possessed such formidable martial prowess that other syndicate members were no match for them. Thus, in just two to three years, the Arashi Judo-ryū, from a completely obscure minor sect, had risen to become one of Japan's top ten syndicates.
Daidōmon Kenbei was no ordinary man; besides being a top judo expert, he was also a superpowered individual! His ability was strength enhancement. Nurtured by the gradually recovering spiritual energy of heaven and earth, his strength was five to ten times that of an average adult male. While for an ordinary person, such a significant increase in strength might not drastically alter their combat effectiveness, as combat relies on more than just brute force, for a judoka, it was like adding wings to a tiger!
The atmosphere in the vast room was intensely grim. All present were ruthless individuals who lived by the sword. An ordinary person would likely wet themselves in fear if placed in such an environment. The reason only these ten individuals were in this large room, with their subordinates stationed fifty meters away, was for security considerations. Who knew if someone with malicious intent might give an order, and a squad of executioners would be dispatched to eliminate everyone else? After all, there wasn't a single good person in this entire estate.
After a long silence in the hall, Yamaguch Shigeo finally spoke. "Gentlemen, it is no small feat that we are all gathered here. I know we have many grudges and conflicts of interest amongst us. But now, I hope you can set aside these disputes. We face a common enemy, that 'Human-Leg Immortal'!"
"I second Yamaguchi-kumicho's suggestion!" declared Kawabuchi Gorō, the leader of the Sumiyoshi-kai. The assembled individuals were surprised by Kawabuchi Gorō's stance. After all, the Sumiyoshi-kai was Japan's second-largest syndicate, and they were direct rivals to the Yamaguchi-gumi. They had clashed countless times over profits and dominance. Even when the Yamaguchi-gumi and Sumiyoshi-kai high command had opportunities to meet, they would engage in mutual taunting and sabotage, utterly incompatible. To everyone's surprise, Kawabuchi Gorō expressed his agreement with Yamaguch Shigeo's suggestion, as if the sun had risen from the west.
In reality, Kawabuchi Gorō's attitude was not surprising, as their Sumiyoshi-kai had been direct victims of that "charlatan immortal." Over a hundred members of their Fukuoka branch had been reduced to human legs by Ling Tian, and even the second-in-command of the Sumiyoshi-kai had not escaped becoming a human leg. This incident had caused the entire Sumiyoshi-kai to lose face, and internal morale was shaken, with many contemplating their future. Even more devastating was the astronomical cost of medical treatment and compensation for those hundred-plus individuals. If it were a smaller syndicate, they might have defaulted on the payments and simply disbanded, disavowing the debt. However, the Sumiyoshi-kai dared not do so, as it risked the complete disintegration of their syndicate. This sudden financial burden made the Sumiyoshi-kai's already tight finances even more precarious. Therefore, when Yamaguch Shigeo convened these syndicate leaders to discuss the "Human-Leg Immortal," the Sumiyoshi-kai not only refrained from obstruction but actively offered strong support, leading to this meeting!
"Gentlemen, how should we deal with that Human-Leg Immortal? I hope you will speak your minds freely!"
The others exchanged glances. At this moment, Daidōmon Kenbei spoke. "Yamaguchi-kumicho, I have seen the videos you sent. To put it plainly, this person's martial arts skills are extremely high. In all of Japan, there are no more than five people who can contend with him in martial arts!" Before the meeting, Yamaguch Shigeo had sent the videos of the syndicate attacks and related information to the syndicate leaders, allowing them to prepare for the enemy's brutality. Upon viewing the videos, everyone was deeply disturbed. Daidōmon Kenbei, being a martial arts expert, immediately recognized how terrifying Ling Tian was. "His movement techniques are bizarre, his swordsmanship is superb, and most importantly, to execute such swordsmanship and movement requires considerable stamina. Yet, this fellow seems inexhaustible. Therefore, I surmise that this person is likely a superpowered individual!"
Upon hearing this, everyone's faces grew even more grim. Although the topic of superpowered individuals was not officially recognized by governments worldwide, these individuals, given their status, were aware of their existence. "Daidōmon-kun, in your opinion, how many people would be needed at a minimum to kill this Human-Leg Immortal?"
"That's truly hard to say. His swordsmanship is extremely refined. If too many people surround and attack him, he might use others' bodies as cover, becoming even more agile. If there are too few, he can easily pick them off one by one, putting them in danger. My suggestion is that each of our families concentrate their elite forces. Once we identify his intentions, we strike immediately and eliminate him with our top-tier combat power!"
At this point, the leader of one syndicate said, "If we send our top fighters, what if this Human-Leg Immortal comes to attack us!"